Discover Rusk: Nature Trails and History

Martin Creek Lake State Park is in Rusk County on the shore of the 5,000-acre Martin Creek Lake. The hiking trails offer different lengths and difficulty levels; names such as Old Henderson Road and Harmony Hill also tell the story of the area’s history.

Hiking Trails and Waterside Scenery

The three trails mentioned can be easily compared by length and difficulty. The Island Trails are 0.9 miles long, easy, and pass through tall pines and open grassland. The 1.7-mile Harmony Hill Loop is also easy. The Old Henderson Road Loop is 1.4 miles long and has a moderate difficulty rating. If you’re looking for an easier route, you can choose between the two trails rated easy; the Old Henderson Road Loop has a different rating.

Water also shapes the landscape. At Conservation Pool, Martin Creek Reservoir has 62 miles of shoreline. The reservoir offers year-round fishing for largemouth bass and catfish, including blue catfish and channel catfish. These details offer two different ways to plan your visit: the shoreline and fishing for the fish species listed.

To find your way to Martin Creek Lake: it is three miles southwest of Tatum on Texas Highway 43; access is via County Road 2183. Road conditions and park information can change, so check them before you travel.

Historical Traces

Old Henderson Road was once a trade route between Henderson and Shreveport. The former settlement of Harmony Hill is now a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Harmony Hill Loop shares its name and, with its easy rating, offers another hiking option alongside the Old Henderson Road Loop.

The Rusk County Depot Museum & History Center was established in 1978, starting with a railroad depot, and includes twelve historic structures. At the Children's Discovery Center, children can experience history by touching, feeling, and looking. A different historical topic is commemorated by the monument to the victims of the New London School Explosion, erected in 1939. The Henderson Commercial Historic District is also listed on the National Register.

Festivals, Routes, and Regional Offerings

The Heritage Syrup Festival is described as a folk-life festival in East Texas and takes place on the second Saturday in November. Check the details for the relevant year before planning your trip around it. This helps you fit the date into your other travel plans without confusing it with other seasonal experiences.

East Texas Wildflower Trails is a self-guided tour with four routes in Rusk County. The driving tour includes a map and attractions. This gives you several routes to follow as you plan the tour at your own pace.

The Henderson Farmers Market offers locally grown and homemade fruits, meat, and cheese, as well as prepared foods and drinks. A visit to the market therefore adds a specific selection of regional and homemade products to your nature and history experiences.

Discover more destinations: Henderson, Tatum, Williamson, Bell, Grimes County, Grayson, Pecos County and Castro County.

For the broader travel overview: Texas.